Monday, March 23, 2009

The Use of Force Working Group, or taser working group, today met with doctors to discuss taser risks. The group, composed of local law enforcement and legal professionals, posed questions and offered their takes on the testimony. Dr. Joe Suyuma of the UPMC Department of Emergency Medicine testified that it’s best to subdue people showing symptoms of “excited delirium” as soon as possible citing the taser as the best method. However, Dr. Andrew Dennis, a Chicago Trauma Surgeon says tasers could cause catastrophic damage to the heart and could harm those subjects in a state of “excited delirium.” The Use of Force Working group was started by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala after several deaths this summer in which tasers were used.